Holder construction for refillable writing or erasing instruments



Dec. 2,1952 K'OSTKA 2,619,937

HOLDER CONSTRUCTION FOR REFILLABLE WRITING OR ERASING INSTRUMENTS Filed July 12, 1950 INVENTOR. Charles Kosfka BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER CONSTRUCTION FOR REFILLABLE WRITING OR ERASING INSTRUMENTS Charles Kostlra, New York, N. Y. Application July 12, 1950, Serial No. 173,428

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to writing or erasing instruments as pertaining to the graphic arts, and more particularly is directed to an improvement in refillable pencil, crayon or eraser holder constructions.

Among the objects of th invention is to improve holde constructions of the character described which shall comprise few and simple parts which are readily assembled to provide neat and attractive appearing instruments, which shall be cheap to manufacture, which shall be sized and shaped for convenient manipulation and refilling with convention-ally available types of pencil, crayon or eraser elements, which shall accommodate writing and eraser elements having a wide range of hardness properties from relatively resilient eraser rubbe to rigid crayon chalk or slate pencil Writing elements and which shall be practical and eiii'cient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in 'part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

. In the accompanying drawing in which various embodiments of the invention are shown,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a crayon holder construction formed with a sheet metal casing embodying the invention, showing in dotted lines a more resilient clutchin leading end.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken .on line 2-2 in Fig. l and showing details of the releasable locking interconnection between the pusher member and the stop anchoring ring.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of the interior assembly of the improved holder construction taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1 showing the wedged position in full lines and released position in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a slate pencil and the like, or rubber eras-er holder construction embodying the invention formed with a non-metallic casing, such as a mold-ed plastic.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a crayon holder construction for-med with a sheet metal casing partly broken embodying the invention with the casing formed with a demountable lead ing end portion; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are front elevational views partly broken away of holder each similar to Fig. 4 constructed for use with a slate pencil and the like, or rubber eraser element, except that Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention formed with sheet metal casing having a demountable leading end portion of a non-metallic, such as plastic, and Fig. '7 another embodiment formed with a non-metallic casing of plastic having a demounta'ble leading end portion of sheet metal.

In my Patent No. 2,132,633, granted October 11, 1938, there is disclosed a refillable lead-pencil hold-er construction of a pusher feed-type with an abutment slider stop-ring therefor. The invention herein described and shown includes additional combination of novel features in providing an improved releasable locking interconnector means between the pusher member and a stop anchoring ring, and also having spring gripping means integrally formed with the leading end portion of the holder to cooperate with the pusher member to clamp a refill writing or eraser element within the holder in the novel manner as herein described and shown in the drawing.

Referring in detail to the Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, 20 denotes a refill-able crayon holder construction embodying the invention which is seen to comprise an elongated casing 2|, here shown as a drawn sheet metal tubular structure formed with an axially extending bore 2|a in which is fitted a crayon 22 such as for example, a piece of chalk.

Said crayon 22 may be of any recognized standard dimension and shape and said casing bore 2 la of such corresponding cross-section that the crayon 22 is mounted for sliding movement through said bore 2 la.

The casing 2| may terminate at its leading end portion Zlb in an integral tapering or pyramid shaped section, here shown as a conical formation uniformly slitted with longitudinally spaced apart slits 2 I0, the ends of each slit 2 l c terminating a through-opening 2|d of somewhat larger diameter than the width of said slits 2 I0 so as to provide a series of spring clutching finger portions 2|e for yielda'bly but firmly gripping the crayon 22 adjacent an exposed portion thereof projecting beyond the leading end finger portions 2|e.

As is clear from Figs. '1 and 3, at rear. end 2| 1 of casing 2| opposite said pyramid shaped. leading end 21b a suitable closure cap 23 may be removably seated, said closure cap 23 being releasably secured in seated position by a screw thread joint 23a or other equivalent coupling means, in the well understood manner.

Extending substantially the length of easing 2 I from a distance back, that is, just short of a plane passing through said openings 2|d to the extreme rim edge of rear end 2|) there is provided a relatively narrow straight elongated through slot 2|g which communicates with casing bore 2|a, and mounted for selective movement in said bore 2 la rearwardly of said crayon 22 there is a pusher member 24.

Said pusher member 24 may comprise a plunger head 24a fitted to normally slide freely in said bore 2 la, said plunger head 2417. having extending therefrom a thin neck or shank 24b which passes through slot 23 and terminates at the exterior of the casing 2| in a suitable enlarged finger manipulating means, such as knob 24c. Said plunger head 24 also may have extending in alignment with said shank 24b and knob 240: a rearwardly extending fin 24d which has an edge portion 24c thereof projecting through slot Hg and beyond the exterior of the casing 2| as seen in Fig. 3.

Said plunger head 24a, shank 24b, knob 24c and fin 24d, may, if desired, be made of a single piece of material or joined pieces secured by a rivet 26 as shown in Fig. 3, said member 24 being positioned in bore 2|a so that end front facing surface 24 of plunger head 24a opposite said fin 24d abuts the rearward end 220. of crayon 22 thus serving on movement of said plunger head 24a as a feeding or adjusting means for projecting the crayon 22 through the casing 2| so that business or marking end 222) of the crayon 22 is exposed beyond clutching finger portion 2|e.

For anchoring pusher member 24 in a desired set position to rigidly retain crayon 22 effective to project as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, there is provided a wedge locking ring 25 encircling casing 2| which is mounted for sliding along the exterior of casing 2| with pusher member 24 but having limited relative movement with respect thereto by a loose engagement of said ring 25 with fin 24d. To that end, ring 25 may be formed with an extending shoe section 25a having a groove 25b in which exposed projecting fin edge portion 246 rides and serves as a track therefor. Track fin edge 246 may be formed to slope rearwardly with respect to an axis of the bore 2|a and shoe section 25a correspondingly sloped but of relatively shorter length than said fin edge 24f so that the ring 25 may be retracted therealong from a firmly wedged locking position on the latter, shown in full lines in Fig. 3, to a releasing position freeing the anchorage of pusher member 24 withthe casing 2| as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. g

If desired, said loose engagement of ring 25 with fin 24d may form an inseparable unit by preventing displacement separation thereof when the pusher-member 24 and ring 25 are removed from casing 2| when refilling with a crayon 22. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 such separation prevention may be accomplished by providing a retainer extension portion 24g offstanding from fin 2411 over said track edge 24c to freely project through a passage 250 in said ring section 25a so as not to interfere with the wedge locking movement of the ring 25 on the fin track edge 24 thereby preserving said loose interconnection against accidental separation displacement of the ring groove 25b from a cooperative position with fin projecting edge 24e in readiness for said wedge locking action when assembled in casing 2|.

The-practical application of the invention will now be apparentafter constructing the various parts of complete holder 20 as described above and shown in Figs. 1 to 3, said parts may be readily assembled by sliding the crayon 22 into casing bore 2|a through rear open end 2| thereof with cap 23 removed. The pusher member 24 with said ring 25 loosely interconnected therewith which may form an inseparable unit if desired, can next be positioned in place by sliding pusher head 24a into the casing bore 2|a behind the crayon 22 with the ring'25 encircling said casing 2| and with the'shank 24b and fin projecting edge 24c extendingthrough slot or groove 25b. The cap 23 may then be screwed on the casing rear open end 2|f to form a closure.

To adjust the pusher member 24 into effective position, ring 25 may be first retracted, that is, moved into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 to release the wedging action of the ring groove 25b on fin projecting edge 24). Then pusher member 24 and loosely interconnecting ring 25 may be together advanced along casing 2| and the bore 2|a thereof with crayon 22 until the desired business end 22b of the latter projects beyond the spring clutching finger portion 2|e of casing leading tapered end 2|b." The ring 25 is then moved in a forwardly direction with relation to fin projecting edge 24e thereby rigidly wedging the ring 25, pusher member 24 through fin projecting edge 24a to the casing 2|, and as a result clamping crayon 22 in bore 2 |a between said clutching finger portion 2 le and the plunger head end front facing surface 24 crayon 22 being thus firmly retained in an effective operating position for use in writing or marking in the well understood manner.

The clutching finger portions 2 le may be made to have spring pressure suitable to correspond to the character of writing elements such as crayon 22,-or an eraser when used in place of the crayon 22. Thus with chalk crayon 22 a comparative stiff structure may be required since chalk is relatively hard while with a wax crayon or erasure element said slits 2|c forming finger portions 2|e may be made longer and the through-opening 2 Id positioned as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to give a greater resiliency and less stiff clamping structure.

Movement of pusher member 24 and ring 25 is facilitated through manipulation of knob 24c, and crayon 22 may be replaced or adjusted for marking by releasing said wedging of the ring 25 as described above.

When the retainer extension 24g is provided, accidental separation of ring 25 from pusher member 24 as a unit is prevented when the latter and said ring 25 are removed from the casing 2| during refilling or replacing of crayon 22 therein.

In Fig. 4 a modified construction of the invention in the form of holder 30 is shown for use with a slate pencil or an erasing element 32 instead of a crayon V22. Casing 3| of holder 3|] may be made of molded plastic and for convenience said casing 3| is made approximately the cross-sectional size of a conventional lead pencil. All the other parts and construction may be similar to that described above for holder 25 to conform to the size, shape and requirement of easing 3| as for example providin casing 3| 7 with a bore suitably sized for slidingly fitting said element 32 therealong, elongated slot 3| g pusher member 34 with knob 34c and fin projecting edge 346. Also if desired, said holder 30 may include a retainer extension 349, ring 35 for cooperating with said edge 34c, and a leadin end portion 3|b having spaced slits (He and through openings 3|d. Said holder 36 may be used in the identical manner described above either as a refillable writing and marking instrument or as an erasing means.

In Fig. 5 another modification of the invention is shown in which a crayon holder construction 40 is formed with a closed rear end 43 for casing 4| instead of a removable cap, said casing 4| having a longitudinal extendingslot 4|g extending into bore 4|a thereof, and being fitted with demountable leading end portion 4|b. The latter may be rigidly secured in position in any suitable manner, and as shown here by screw joint 45, and may be tapered structure like said leading end 2|b of holder 25 described above, said leading end portion 4|b being formed with spaced slits Me and through-openings 4| (1 to form clutching finger 4|e.

Pusher member 44 of said holder .45 has knob 44c and fin projectingedge 44c loosely interconnecting with locking ring 45, the latter being provided in the assembly with casin 4| in the same manner, as describedabovefor holder construction 20. However since refilling of crayon 42 into casing GI can be carried out when said leading end portion Mb is dismounted there is no need to remove the pusher-member M with loosely interconnected ring from bore 4 la and consequently no retainer extension 249 to pusher member is required, but instead merely stop extension 44g.

It should be noted that casing slot 4| g need not extend to be open-ended, in which case the pusher member M may be assembled by inserting plunger head 44a partly into the open end of the casing Me. Then by slipping fin 4411 into the slot 41g and through ring 45, the fin 44d may be riveted to said plunger head Me. As is clear from Fig. 5, when constructed as above described, the unit formed by pusher member 44 and ring 45 cannot readily be removed from the assembly with casing 4|.

In Figs. 6 and 7 two additional holder constructions 50 and 60 respectively, are shown.

Holder construction 50 shown in Fig. 6 may be the same as that described above for holder 40, having identical parts except that demountable leadin end portion 51b thereof is made of a mold plastic instead of said metal end portion 4lb, said portion 5lb being fitted on metallic casing 5|. Likewise holder construction 60, shown in Fig. 7, is made of similar parts to the assemble of holder 40 except that casing 6| thereof is formed of a molded plastic and is fitted with a demountable metallic leading end portion Blb.

All of said holder construction 30, 40, 50 and 60 when assembled are each manipulated and can be used in the same manner as holder construction 20 above described.

It will thus be seen that there is provided writing or erasin devices of the character described, whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a, limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. For instruments having slotted holder casings each formed with an axial bore, a pusher member comprising a plunger-head fitted for sliding movement along said holder bore, a shank carried by said plunger-head to extend through said slotted holder casing, a finger knob terminating said shank adjacent an exterior surface of the holder casing for selective movement of said plunger-head thereby, a fin aligning with said shank extending in a rearward direction from said plunger-head in said bore with an exposed wedge-shaped edge portion carried by said fin projecting through said slotted holder casing beyond the exterior surface thereof, an anchoring ring slidably mounted on said holder casing exterior surface having a shoe portion for releasably engaging said fin edge portion to wedgingly interlock said plunger-head in a selective desired position along said holder casin on straight line movement of said ring shoe portion with respect to the wedge shaped fin edge portion, said fin projecting edge includes an extension retainer, said locking ring having a passage through which said extension retainer projects for limiting relative movements of the ring by a loose interconnection securing said ring against accidental disengagement with respect to the fin projecting edge on complete removal of the said pusher member with the ring from the casing.

2. For refillable graphic art instruments of the character described as defined in claim 1 in which said casing leading end with said finger portions form a demountable tapered structural portion of said casing, and coupling means for securing said structural portion in effective position.

3. For refillable graphic art instruments of the character described each having an elongated tubular holder casin formed with an axially extending bore and a through-slot extending lengthwise said bore adapted to have replaceably fitted therein an elongated element pertaining to said art for partially filling a length of said bore with the business end of the element extending in an effective projecting position beyond a leading open end of said casing, of a plunger-head fitted for selective sliding movement along said bore havin a front facin surface positioned behind said element against an end of the latter opposite said elements projecting business end, a shank carried by said plunger-head to extend through said slot, a finer knob terminating said shank at an exterior side of the casing for selective movement of the plunger-head thereby, a fin rigidly mounted to extend in a rearward direction from said plunger-head having a projecting portion serving as a track extending through said slot and beyond the casing, a single ring mounted for sliding movement over said casing having a shoe slot into which said fin projecting portion extends in cooperative relation with said knob for releasably Wedge-locking said plunger-head against movement with respect to the casing on movement of the fin portion and knob with respect to said ring, resilient finger portions provided on said casin leading end for clutching said element in the effective projecting position to rigidly clamp said element partially filling said bore between the finger portions and the plungerhead front facin surface, and a loose interconnection includes an extension retainer olfstanding over said track to interconnect with said ring for limiting relative movement of said ring along the track, said ring having a passage spaced from the track through which said extension retainer rides for securing said ring against accidental disengagement with respect to the fin projecting portion on removal of said plunger-head and ring from the casing.

CHARLES KOSTKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 388,015 Boman Aug. 21, 1888 2,282,574 Halsbaoh May 12, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 184,550 Germany May 2, 1907 582,484 Germany Aug. 16, 1933 323,910 Italy Jan. 12, 1935 426,771 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1935 

